where the aluminum foil is pulled
Aluminum is a chemical element present in large quantities on our planet. Due to its properties, it is used in various industries such as the automotive, construction, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and more. Being possible to recycle it with relative ease. Therefore, it is possible to find it in countless everyday products.
Today aluminum foil is widely used in homes, as it is useful for wrapping, transporting and preserving food. Also to cook them in the oven or grill. But after its use it is necessary to carry out some actions so that it can be recycled.
Let’s know a little more about aluminum foil
Also known as silver paper, it is characterized by being malleable and flexible, so it can be easily folded to wrap objects. It is made up of thin sheets of aluminum approximately 0.2 millimeters thick. Its manufacture consists of passing two layers of paper through a rolling mill at the same time, in order to reduce the possibility of breakage and achieve the thinnest and most resistant possible, resulting in shiny outer sides and finished inner sides. mate.
The difference in finish on the sides of the aluminum sheet suggests that one side is better than the other when it comes to cooking, but it has been shown that the difference in temperature between the two sides is almost zero.
Before the existence of aluminum foil, tin foil was used until the first Dr. Lauber, Neher & Cie aluminum foil plant was established in 1910 in Emmishofen, Switzerland. By 2003, the annual production of aluminum foil was 600,000 tons in the United States and 800,000 tons in Europe. It is estimated that 75% of aluminum foil is used to pack food, chemical and cosmetic products, and the remaining 25% for industrial uses.
Currently we can see that aluminum foil is used as a barrier against light in containers for beverages, dairy products and other products, to provide an increase in consumption life. Likewise, it is safe to be used in contact with food, since due to the manufacturing process at high temperatures, it does not harbor or promote the proliferation of bacteria.
On the other hand, silver paper is a good conductor of temperature, in addition to withstanding sub-zero temperatures without fracturing. It can also be heated to high temperatures, up to approximately 660ºC, without losing its shape or melting.
Indeed, aluminum foil is widely used in homes to package products with different shapes, since due to its high malleability it can be deformed without losing its integrity. For example, to wrap the children’s sandwich, to cover food before storing it in the refrigerator or when making cakes, cooking fish, meat, vegetables, among others.
100% Recyclable
Although aluminum is an abundant element on the earth’s surface, its production requires a high energy expenditure, since it is mixed with other materials in its natural state. However, in its recycling process, only 6% of the energy used in its extraction and initial transformation is needed, and it can be reused infinitely without losing its qualities. That is why practically 100% of the material used in construction and industry in general is recycled.
On the other hand, aluminum is the third most used metal in the world , after iron and steel. Hence, it is part of many objects that we see and use, from small containers or trays, to the structures of buildings, airplanes and ships.
In case you did not know, bauxite is the main source of aluminum in the world and it is known that for every ton of aluminum that is thrown into the landfill, four tons of bauxite must be extracted. That is why recycling aluminum saves raw materials, energy and water.
Thanks to its properties, aluminum is appreciated by the industry, since it is light, malleable, a conductor of electricity and heat, resistant to corrosion, long-lasting, as well as being recyclable and sustainable. It is estimated that of all the aluminum produced since 1888, 75% is still in use.
Just like glass, aluminum foil is 100% recyclable . For each roll that is recycled correctly, another equal roll can be made, as many times as you want, since it does not degrade.
What to throw in the yellow container?
Since we have learned more about this important element, it is convenient to move on to the topic of how we can recycle it correctly; starting with knowing that all plastic, metal, and cardboard containers and containers, including their composites, are placed in the yellow container. If at any time you doubt in which of the recycling containers the aluminum foil is deposited, remember that it is the same as the soda cans. That is, in the yellow container.
How to recycle aluminum foil?
When recycling aluminum foil it is of the utmost importance to ensure that it is sent in the correct conditions. The first thing is to clean any food residue, since it should not be mixed with organic remains, you can do it with a sponge or simply with water. Then you must gather all the aluminum foil and make a ball, so that it does not go unnoticed in the process of choosing the materials. Finally, deposit it in a yellow recycling bin.
What is deposited in the yellow container will be sent to a classification plant , where aluminum containers such as beverage cans, trays and paper are separated from the rest of the materials, to later be crushed in a recycling center , as well as melted and reused to make new packaging or other products.
On a daily basis we can carry out actions in favor of the conservation of the environment . In this sense, the recycling of solid waste is one of them. We all have garbage cans in our homes. With will, education and culture it is possible to successfully recycle.
